A taxi driver who punched his ex-wife and assaulted two young children has been refused permission to work in Glasgow.

Zafar Shah, who currently works as a cabbie in East Renfrewshire, was put on a domestic violence work programme following the attacks at Silverburn Shopping Centre in April 2015.

During the incident, which happened in his car, Mr Shah punched his ex-wife on the body and struck her hand on the dashboard.

He then went on to injure a young girl by nipping her legs before grabbing the body of a boy. Glasgow’s licensing chiefs demanded an explanation for his actions after Mr Shah claimed he wasn’t a bad person.

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And he said: “I was there with my ex-wife to buy shoes. I was arguing with my ex-wife then the incident happened.

“This was a mistake and I accept full responsibility for it.

“I’ve been working for the last two years as a taxi driver in East Renfrewshire and I’ve driven a lot of people. Everybody makes mistakes in their lives. I’m a good person.”

Mr Shah had applied to start working in the Glasgow City Council area, insisting he was ready to give up his job in East Renfrewshire job. But licensing committee members refused to allow that after a Police Scotland objection was tabled.

Committee member Gary Gray admitted he was concerned about whether Mr Shah was a fit and proper person to drive a taxi. He said: “This doesn’t make good reading. A conviction is one thing but convictions against children is another.